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Council votes down pigs in city limits
PRIEST RIVER – An exemption to Priest River’s zoning ordinance involving the keeping of livestock within city limits was denied at the Oct. 21 council meeting.
City resident Ashley Stickelmeyer, who lives on Fourth Street, requested an exemption to ordinance 5-1-5: prohibited animals, to allow her children to keep two small breed pigs on her family’s half-acre property. She said that the breed would be Kunekune, smaller than a standard farm pig. Adult Kunekunes can grow up to four-feet long and approximately 24-inches tall. Sows can weigh between 120-200 pounds, while adult males can grow to 200300 pounds.
“My kids are in 4-H and want to raise pigs,” Stickelmeyer told the council. “Kunekune don’t dig and root around like your typical pig and our space is fenced in.”
She added that since her family’s half-acre is equivalent to 21,000 square feet there would be enough room to take care of the animals’ needs without disturbing neighbors.
While council members and Priest River Mayor Jeff Connolly voiced support for Stickelmeyer’s children involvement in 4-H, a non-profit youth development program, there were misgivings about granting the exemption. Council member Sandy Brower said making an exemption for pigs could lead to other residents wanting the same for other prohibited animals.
“I’m just afraid that if we say yes to this then that could lead to other people becoming upset if we don’t offer them an exemption for some goats, or a donkey, or sheep; you get the idea,” Brower said. “You don’t offer a moose a muffin and expect it not to escalate.”
According to city zoning ordinance 5-1-5, the following animals may not be kept in the city on less than one acre: horse, cow, pony, oxen, mules or llama, goats, sheep, swine or potbellied swine and like animals. Chickens are also the only poultry allowed to be kept on residents’ property within the city limits. Exotic animals, including big cats like cougar, tigers, etc. and monkeys are also prohibited. Residential ordinances also limit no more than one large animal per acre.
“4-H is a great program,” council member Candy Turner said. “I was a 4-H kid too and it’s great to see the youth getting involved, but I think your kids will have to pick a different animal, because I’m not comfortable with making exemptions for livestock. My family used to raise pigs, and they smell in the summer time when it gets hot out, no matter what you do. I just think we’d be opening a can of worms.”
Turner and council member Billy Mullaley also expressed concern that allowing pigs on less than an acre could potentially drive down property values within the city.
Council unanimously voted to deny the exemption.
*SOPHIA ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.
